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Compare Croatia (2001) - Latvia (2003)

Compare Croatia (2001) z Latvia (2003)

 Croatia (2001)Latvia (2003)
 CroatiaLatvia
Administrative divisions 20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular), 1 city (grad -singular)*: Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija, Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija, Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija, Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija, Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija, Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka Zupanija 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Age structure 0-14 years:
18.16% (male 403,722; female 383,151)

15-64 years:
66.61% (male 1,452,872; female 1,434,086)

65 years and over:
15.23% (male 245,727; female 414,584) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)


15-64 years: 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)


65 years and over: 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soy beans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Airports 67 (2000 est.) 38 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
22

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
6

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
8 (2000 est.)
total: 22


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
45

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
8

under 914 m:
36 (2000 est.)
total: 16


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Area total:
56,542 sq km

land:
56,414 sq km

water:
128 sq km
total: 64,589 sq km


land: 63,589 sq km


water: 1,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than West Virginia slightly larger than West Virginia
Background In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became an independent communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Birth rate 12.82 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$6 billion

expenditures:
$4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
revenues: $2.4 billion


expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)
Capital Zagreb Riga
Climate Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast maritime; wet, moderate winters
Coastline 5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km) 531 km
Constitution adopted on 22 December 1990 the 1991 Constitutional Law, which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Croatia

conventional short form:
Croatia

local long form:
Republika Hrvatska

local short form:
Hrvatska
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia


conventional short form: Latvia


local long form: Latvijas Republika


local short form: Latvija


former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Currency kuna (HRK) Latvian lat (LVL)
Death rate 11.41 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $9.9 billion (December 1999) $3.4 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Lawrence G. ROSSIN

embassy:
Andrije Hebranga 2, 100000 Zagreb

mailing address:
use street address

telephone:
[385] (1) 455-55-00

FAX:
[385] (1) 455-85-85
chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON


embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510


mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723


telephone: [371] 703-6200


FAX: [371] 781-0047
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Ivan GRDESIC

chancery:
2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 588-5899

FAX:
[1] (202) 588-8936

consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS


chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011


telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214


FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
Disputes - international Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic minority rights; progress with Slovenia on discussions of adjustments to land boundary, but problems remain in defining maritime boundary in Gulf of Piran; Croatia and Yugoslavia are negotiating the status of the strategically important Prevlaka Peninsula, which is currently under a UN military observer mission (UNMOP) the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights
Economic aid - recipient $NA $96.2 million (1995)
Economy - overview Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. Croatia faces considerable economic problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime communist mismanagement of the economy; damage during the internecine fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large refugee and displaced population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the disruption of economic ties. Stepped-up Western aid and investment, especially in the tourist and oil industries, would help bolster the economy. The economy emerged from its mild recession in 2000 with tourism the main factor. Massive unemployment remains a key negative element. The government's failure to press the economic reforms needed to spur growth is largely the result of coalition politics and public resistance, particularly from the trade unions, to measures that would cut jobs, wages, or social benefits. Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit.
Electricity - consumption 13.643 billion kWh (1999) 6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 1 billion kWh (1999) 703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 4.45 billion kWh (1999) 2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 10.96 billion kWh (1999) 4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
40.89%

hydro:
59%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0.11% (1999)
fossil fuel: 29.1%


hydro: 70.9%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Adriatic Sea 0 m

highest point:
Dinara 1,830 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m


highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Environment - current issues air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups Croat 78.1%, Serb 12.2%, Bosniak 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%, Slovenian 0.5%, Czech 0.4%, Albanian 0.3%, Montenegrin 0.3%, Roma 0.2%, others 6.6% (1991) Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2%
Exchange rates kuna per US dollar - 8.089 (January 2001), 8.277 (2000), 7.112 (1999), 6.362 (1998), 6.101 (1997), 5.434 (1996) lati per US dollar - 0.62 (2002), 0.63 (2001), 0.61 (2000), 0.59 (1999), 0.59 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February 2000)

head of government:
Prime Minister Ivica RACAN (since 27 January 2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Goran GRANIC (since 27 January 2000), Zeljka ANTUNOVIC (since 27 January 2000), Slavko LINIC (since 27 January 2000)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the House of Representatives

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 7 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister nominated by the president in line with the balance of power in the Assembly

election results:
Stjepan MESIC elected president; percent of vote - Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 56%, Drazen BUDISA (HSLS) 44%

note:
government coalition - SDP, HSLS, HSS, LP, HNS, IDS
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament


elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Exports $4.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners Italy 18%, Germany 15.7%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 12.8%, Slovenia 10.6%, Austria 6.2% (1999) UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania 5.9%, Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered) three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
GDP purchasing power parity - $24.9 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $20.99 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
10%

industry:
19%

services:
71% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 4.5%


industry: 26%


services: 69.5% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,800 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.2% (2000 est.) 6.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 45 10 N, 15 30 E 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
27,840 km

paved:
23,497 km (including 330 km of expressways)

unpaved:
4,343 km (1998)
total: 73,202 km


paved: 28,256 km


unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 2.9%


highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Illicit drugs transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; a minor transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; money laundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation
Imports $7.8 billion (c.i.f., 1999) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, foodstuffs machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners Germany 18.5%, Italy 15.9%, Russia 8.6%, Slovenia 7.9%, Austria 7.1% (1999) Germany 17.9%, Russia 15.1%, Finland 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Sweden 5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Estonia 4.8% (2002)
Independence 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate 1.7% (2000) 5.7% (2002 est.)
Industries chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Infant mortality rate 7.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6% (2000 est.) 2% (2002 est.)
International organization participation BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 9 (2000) 41 (2001)
Irrigated land 30 sq km (1993 est.) 200 sq km


note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Labor force 1.68 million (October 2000) 1.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries total:
2,028 km

border countries:
Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Yugoslavia 266 km, Slovenia 501 km
total: 1,150 km


border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
Land use arable land:
21%

permanent crops:
2%

permanent pastures:
20%

forests and woodland:
38%

other:
19% (1993 est.)
arable land: 29.01%


permanent crops: 0.48%


other: 70.51% (1998 est.)
Languages Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Legal system based on civil law system based on civil law system
Legislative branch bicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of the House of Counties or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats, 63 directly elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-year terms; note - House of Counties to be abolished in 2001) and House of Representatives or the Zastupnicki Dom (151 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
House of Counties - last held 13 April 1997; House of Representatives - last held 2-3 January 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
House of Counties - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HDZ 42, HSLS/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2, SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note - in some districts certain parties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran alone; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HDZ 46, SDP 44, HSLS 24, HSS 17, HSP/HKDU 5, IDS 4, HNS 2, independents 4, minority representatives 5
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7
Life expectancy at birth total population:
73.9 years

male:
70.28 years

female:
77.73 years (2001 est.)
total population: 69.31 years


male: 63.46 years


female: 75.45 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
97%

male:
99%

female:
95% (1991 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.8%


male: 99.8%


female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Location Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Map references Europe Europe
Maritime claims continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea:
12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total:
53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 631,853 GRT/969,739 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 11, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 5, container 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 3 (2000 est.)
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 52,607 GRT/35,650 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
Military branches Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, National Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $575 million (2000) $87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.8% (2000) 1.2% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,085,877 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 592,562 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
859,621 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 465,788 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 19 years of age 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
30,037 (2001 est.)
males: 19,477 (2003 est.)
National holiday Republic Day/Statehood Day, 30 May (1990) Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Nationality noun:
Croat(s)

adjective:
Croatian
noun: Latvian(s)


adjective: Latvian
Natural hazards destructive earthquakes NA
Natural resources oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Net migration rate 13.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; natural gas 310 km (1992) gas 1,097 km; oil 412 km; refined products 421 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Alliance of Croatian Coast and Mountains Department or PGS [Luciano SUSANJ]; Croatian Christian Democratic Union or HKDU [Marko VESELICA]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Dobroslav PARAGA]; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC]; Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Drazen BUDISA]; Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Liberal Party or LP [leader NA]; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]

note:
the Social Democratic Party or SDP and the Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS formed a coalition as did the HSS, HNS, LP, and IDS, which together defeated the Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ in the 2000 lower house parliamentary election
Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; CENTER Political Alliance [Juris CELMINS]; First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS]; For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS]; Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA]; Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris RUBINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC [Janis NAGLIS]; Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS]; New Era Party [Einars REPSE]; Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS]; Party of Latvians [Aivars GARDA]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Progressive Center Party [Inta STAMGUTE]; Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 4,334,142 (July 2001 est.) 2,348,784 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 4% (1999 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 1.48% (2001 est.) -0.73% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube), Zadar Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Radio broadcast stations AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999) AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 1.51 million (1997) -
Railways total:
2,296 km

standard gauge:
2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (983 km electrified) (2000)
total: 2,347 km


broad gauge: 2,314 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
Religions Roman Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%, Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8% (1991) Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Sex ratio at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.59 male(s)/female

total population:
0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female


total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed) 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analog circuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will be included in the plan for the main trunk

international:
digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project which consists of two fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is also investing in ADRIA 1, a joint fiber-optic project with Germany, Albania, and Greece (2000)
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use


domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications


international: international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)
Telephones - main lines in use 1.488 million (1997) 734,693 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 187,000 (yearend 1998) 401,263 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995) 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands low plain
Total fertility rate 1.94 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.2 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 22% (October 2000) 7.6% (2001 est.)
Waterways 785 km

note:
(perennially navigable; large sections of Sava blocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris)
300 km (perennially navigable)
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